Nippy_Sweetie

The most striking difference in Chinese restaurants in Glasgow, Scotland is the way they refill your wine glass after every sip. Some Chinese restaurant owner worked out that Scottish people drink a lot (not that hard a thing to realise) and if you just keep pouring, they just keep drinking. The money you can make on wine is really good, and people always end up ordering another bottle as they've unexpectedly finished the first one. The only way to stop this is to be firm and repeatedly tell the waiting staff not to do this This never happens as it ventures into being rude and possibly creating a scene, and noone in Scotland is going to that over being given more alcohol! I order my wine by the glass or ask for Chinese tea which is NEVER refilled without me asking. Other restaurants only refill your glass if it's empty.

Txacoli definitely isn't one of the world best wines, but the red wine of the same standard is even worse! Basque teenagers and students make calimocho quite a lot, which is red wine and coca-cola. An appalling thought until you taste the red wine on it's own, then you realise why. . . Liz, txacoli would be best tried as a glass with some tapas in the Old Part of San Sebastian or Irun or Bilbao as opposed to ordering a whole bottle in a restaurant. The reason that the tapas bars are full before the restauarants is because you have some tapas and THEN you have your sit down meal. The Basques can really eat , I mean they eat in Spain in general, but in the north they EAT.

Do none of you know anyone who speaks Spanish and could organise reservations by phone for you? Or even find a Spanish student and bribe them with a bottle of wine to do it?

From Mugaritz: Awaiting a confirmation of booking during the same week you have made your reservation, we wish you well. From Arzak: We would be grateful for you to confirm your reservation by calling the restaurant a few days before. People have recommended that you try Riojas from the basque country. I would also recommend you have a look at Ribera Del Duero's or Priorats (especially Scala Dei) as these wines can be quite difficult to find outside of Spain (Scala Dei nigh on impossible)